Racehorse toy



A. E. DENNIS RACE HORSE TOY Nov. 27, 1951 Filed Aug. 2, 1946 INVENTOR. Alberi gi Dennid T RNEYG Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RACEHORSE TOY Albert E. Dennis, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application August 2, 1946, Serial No. 688,089

This invention relates to an amusement device taking the form of a device which may be progressed across a surface with the exercise of skill.

While the device of the present invention may be used as a toy it is particularly adapted for use in competitive racing and for such use may be made to simulate a race horse, greyhound or the like to be used in competition. The various objects of the invention having to do with features of construction and operation will become apparent from the following description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows, in elevation, a desirable embodiment of the invention illustrating one phase of its operation;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing another phase of the operation;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the same; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane indicated at 4-4 in Figure 2.

As will be evident hereafter the particular artistic form which the device of the present invention may take is quite arbitrary, and instead of the race horse illustrated, the device may simulate other animals or may even take arbitrary form depending entirely on artistic choice. For simplicity and uniformity of description, however, reference will be made to the simulation of a race horse illustrated herein.

In the modification illustrated the device comprises a main member 2 taking the form of a horse having a head 4 and tail 6 carrying a jockey 8 with the rear legs indicated at IU together with a base portion l 2. Conveniently, this main member of the device may be cut out of plywood or similar material and extra thickness and weight is imparted to the base by flanking the base member I2 with additional plywood elements as indicated at l3. By adopting a, suitable configuration for this main member a proper balance is achieved throwing the center of gravity at some such point as indicated at I 4.

The base portion of this main member is formed to rock on a plane surface supporting the device and for this purpose desirably has its lower surface in the form of two distinct surfaces meeting in a hump or protuberance indicated at 16. However, it is not necessary to have any substantial salient at this point I'G- and the base may be merely rounded with a suitable radius of curvature. The arrangement, in any event, is such that when the parts are in the phase indicated in Figure 1, as will be described hereafter,

1 Claim. (Cl. 46-127) 2 the center of gravity l4 falls behind the point of contact of the main member with the supporting surface.

Pivoted at l8 to the main member, for example, through the use of a pivot pin, is a pendulumlike-associated membe consisting, in the present instance, of members 20 simulating front legs which terminate in arcuate members 24, the legs being suitably spaced by a pin 22. The lower sur- 10 faces 26 constituting the supporting surface of the arcuate members 24 are, for example, in the form of circular arcs having their centers at the position indicated at 28 in Figure 1, i. e., they are desirably eccentric with the pin [8. The entire lower edges of the members 24 need not be in the form of circular arcs but may take the form of other suitable curves as will be evident to a designer. As illustrated, the arcuate members 24 clear the lateral extensions l3 of the base of the main member.

The proper weighting of the several parts of the device will be best made apparent from a description of the operation of the device in use.

A cord or thread 32 secured to the forward porw 25 tion of the main member serves for the operation of the device. Beginning with the condition illustrated in Figure 1, it will be assumed that the cord is under tension so that the associated member consisting of the legs 20 and the arcuate portion 24 makes frictional contact with the supporting surface at 34 and the main member has been drawn forwardly to a point short of tumbling the device over in a forward direction. Under these conditions the center of gravity I4 of the main member is behind the point of engagement I 6 of its base with the supporting surface. At the same time the pendulum-like associated member occupies a rearward position with respect to the main member as illustrated. Accordingly, upon release of the cord 32 a series of movements occur in rapid succession. The effective center of gravity of the whole device is behind the supporting point [6 and consequently the main member will rock rearwardly. As it does so the associated member is lifted from its contact at 34 and is free to swing forwardly. As it swings forwardly the main member again rocks forwardly until the position of Figure 2 is attained in which the associated member makes contact with the supporting surface at a point such as 36 while the center of gravity of the main member occupies a position forwardly of the contact [6 between the base of the main member and the supporting surface.

If the pull on the cord 32 is now resumed the main member is caused to slide along the supporting surface pivoting about the pivotal connection I 8 while the associated member rocks on the arcuate surfaces of the portions 24. By proper continuation of the pull the device reaches the condition illustrated in Figure 1 and the cycle may be repeated. As will be evident, each cycle of operation involves a forward movement corresponding to the extent of the free swing of the associated member.

The application of the device to a racing game of skill will now be evident. Each contestant may,

be provided with a device of the type described, the devices being initially lined up at a starting? line. The contestants may then attempt to race their devices by proper manipulations ofthe strings. operation will not result in sufficiently rapid advance of the device. excitement of the contest an attempt to secure tcio much speed. from adevice.- will: result inoits tumbling: overgand' being disqualifiedzi .Thus. .th

race lends itself to the use of substantial Ski1111n'... l

operationrgaddinggto the interest in :the game. It mayalso be remarked that in=a grouprofi-tli'ese On the other hand," in-the' As will be evident, too conservativetanay;

tive :skillS-Z of: :the contestants in eoperating their;

individual devices: The: elements of: actual horser racingare-thus :very well simulated. I

While-the-main member has::been,- herein illustratecl astaking the formiof a singleflat piecesz while the associated member is bifurcated-,,it-will;

be.,:evident that a reverse arrangementrmight. be

used; in :which' the main: member .mayconsistof two spaced parts while .pthexassociated "member;

constituting in the present instance-thev front legs: of the horse; may-be -formed- 'as;v a single 7-- piece; ,oras still another: alternative, :asuitable. I

' hin'germay be providedyso -thatj both thermainandfii the associated-members may 1beessentiallyflat'wwith widening atthe basewportionszonly"towproduce-sufficient stability As will 'be evident from the ,descriptionnumerous changes -in- -idetails-s of construction may? bei-made awithout: departin -ii from the principles of the invention as defined in the following claim.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

An amusement device in a form simulating a four-legged animal comprising a body member, a flexible pull member connected to the forward portion of said body member, and a front leg simulating member having a pivotal connection with therbody member, said body member having a rear leg simulating member including a base portion providing a rocking contact with a supporting surface and being rigid between said pivotal 'connection and said base portion, said front leg simulatingv member being in the form of a pendulum having a support portion engageable with .thegsupporting surface and being rigid between said pivotal connection and said support portion-,--said front leg simulating member being sufficiently short so that its support portion will belliftedclear of th'e supporting surface when the body member rocks backwardly on its base por tionxand during:- normal operation of thedevice the center of gravity of the device being at -'all times to the rear: of. a. perpendioularzthr ou'gh said pivotalc'onnection; said parts being arranged and weighted so that upon application of a'fo'rward pull-to said bodymemberthrough said:pull-member, the':body"member: slides forwardly upon the supporting-surface pivoting about said pivotal l connection with .the front leg simulating member which rocks upon its support-*- portionpand so that upon release of the forward pull;the body memberxfirst. rocks' rearwardly tolift the frontlegsimulatingmembe'r from the supporting surface whereupon the front leg -simulating member-mayswing forwardly;--rocking the body member forwardly and restoringengagementbetween the-support portion of the front leg-simulating member and the supporting surfacen ALBERT DENNIS.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are'of record inthe' file ofthis patent:

UNITED..STATE,S PATENTS Numbers: Name"; Date 1,1;54;08-8 Breneman .Sept: 21311915: 1 1,421,694? Juergens;;.- July 4, 1922? 1,762,574: Fox .June. 10,1930 2,029,849? Whitehousem; Feb: 4, 193.6 2,111,348: Wheateit; Manx-15;; 1938 

